1 Corinthians 14:23-25 (NLT)
23Even so, if unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your meeting and hear everyone talking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. 24But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin, and they will be condemned by what you say. 25As they listen, their secret thoughts will be laid bare, and they will fall down on their knees and worship God, declaring, "God is really here among you."


Paul was writing to the church of Corinth. People there were arguing over which spiritual gifts were the greatest among them. Some felt as though speaking in tongues was the greatest gift. But Paul told the people until they were able to reach an unbeliever and help him understand the unbeliever might think they are crazy to be talking in an unknown way. He said you want to convict them of their sin, you want them to understand their wrongs, and as they listen you want their SECRET THOUGHTS be laid bare. This will bring them to repentant, and readiness to worship God.

Have you ever been in a situation where you have tried to keep a secret for a period of time, but you were not exactly sure what details were to remain a secret? Every now and then you might slip and catch yourself because you suddenly realized one of the people present didn’t know the whole truth. When you hide sins in your own life you start doing the same thing. You start compartmentalizing parts of your life. Maybe these people know nothing about these sins. And these groups over here, it’s ok for them to know about those sins, because they were with you. And this person knows about these sins, because they went out with you that night you committed them. Maybe you told your spouse about these sins, but your Sunday school class doesn’t know any of these sins. After a while you are nothing but a bunch of SECRETS placed in a bunch of boxes, each labeled with different friends, different groups, and even different family members. The question starts to become, “HOW CAN I KEEP THESE STRAIGHT?” Some people can’t, which makes some people start develop emotional problems, stress, anxiety, depression. They may start avoiding those groups. As they keep the truth from others the SECRECTS start killing relationships. Are you in a place like that, in little small boxes? The only way to pull yourself back together is to confess your sins to God and start learning to be real about who you are. You have to get HONEST and TRUST GOD to see you through the healing process. Are you ready to lay bare your secret thoughts? Pray God, HELP ME, I want to confess the sins in my life and lay them bare for all to see. I not longer want to hold on to secrets in my life, but I want to get honest and real. I want to heal the pains and be genuine. God break the little of boxes of secrecy and heal me back into a solid, whole person of honesty.